Association of asthma exacerbations with paper mulberry (Broussenetia papyrifera) pollen in Islamabad: An observational study.

Background: Although the role of airborne plant pollen in causing allergic rhinitis has been established, the association of concentrations of paper mulberry (Broussenetia papyrifera) pollens in the air and incidence of asthma exacerbations has not, despite an observed increase in the number of asthma patients attending physician clinics and hospital Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments during the paper mulberry pollen season. We aimed to assess the association between paper mulberry pollen concentrations (typically peaking in March each year) and asthma exacerbations in the city of Islamabad. Methods: We used three approaches to investigate the correlation of paper mulberry pollen concentration with asthma exacerbations: A retrospective analysis of historical records (2000-2019) of asthma exacerbations of patients from the Allergy and Asthma Institute, Pakistan (n = 284), an analysis of daily nebulisations in patients attending the A&E Department of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (March 2020 to July 2021), a prospective peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) diary from participants (n = 40) with or without asthma and with or without paper mulberry sensitisation. We examined associations between pollen data and asthma exacerbations using Pearson correlation. Results: We found a strong positive correlation between mean paper mulberry pollen counts and clinical records of asthma exacerbations in patients sensitised to paper mulberry (Pearson correlation coefficient (r) = 0.86; P < 0.001), but not in non-sensitised patients (r = 0.32; P = 0.3). There was a moderate positive correlation between monthly nebulisation counts and pollen counts (r = 0.56; P = 0.03), and a strong negative correlation between percent predicted PEFR and pollen counts in sensitised asthma patients (r = -0.72, P < 0.001). However, these correlations were of low magnitude in the non-sensitised asthma (r = -0.16; P < 0.001) and sensitised non-asthma (r = -0.28; P < 0.001) groups. Conclusions: Our three approaches to analysis all showed an association between high paper mulberry pollen concentration in Islamabad and asthma exacerbations. Predicting pollen peaks could enable alerts and mobilise strategies to proactively manage these peaks of asthma exacerbations.

Effect of Vitamin D supplementation on reduction in levels of HbA1 in patients recently diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus having asymptomatic Vitamin D deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Vitamin D supplementation on reduction in level of HbA1 in patients recently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus Type II having asymptomatic Vitamin D deficiency. METHODS: This randomized control trial was conducted at East Medical Ward Mayo Hospital Lahore for 6 months from January 01 2016 to June 30, 2016. 114 Patients were included through non probability purposive sampling technique. Informed consent and demographic information was collected. Patients were divided in two groups by randomization through tossing a coin. Group-A patients received Metformin tablet alone at 500 mg after dinner and Group-B patients were treated with same dosage of Metformin along with oral vitamin D at 200,000 IU monthly for three months. Blood sample was obtained at baseline, 3 months and 6 months of initiation of therapy. All samples were sent to the laboratory for complete blood count, blood sugar fasting, serum calcium, serum phosphorous, serum alkaline phosphatase, HbA1c and serum 25 Hyroxy Vitamin D (S-25(OH) D) levels and iPTH. Data entry and analysis was done by using SPSS 20. RESULTS: The mean age of patients in metformin group was 42.37±4.59 years while mean age of patients in combination group was 43.33±4.86years. Males were 45.6% and females were 54.4% in metformin group while in combination group, 36.8% were males' and 63.2% were females'. At baseline, in metformin group, mean Vitamin D level was 17.09±1.73mg/dl and in combination group, mean Vitamin D level was 16.49±1.56mg/dl. The difference was insignificant (p>0.05). On 2nd visit, combination group mean Vitamin D was 29.04±3.96mg/dl. At baseline, 1st and 2nd visit, in metformin group, mean HbA1c was 7.59±0.47%, 7.46±0.25% and 7.30±0.29%. At baseline, 1st and 2nd visit, in combination group, mean HbA1c was 7.71±0.19%, 7.57±0.21% and 7.43±0.26%. The difference was insignificant (p>0.05) at baseline while significant on later follow-ups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D supplementation improved the glycemic control but substantial reduction in HbA1c was statistically insignificant in both groups.

HEPATOBILIARY ASCARIASIS COMPLICATED BY PANCREATITIS.

Ascaris lumbricoides is the commonest organism causing soil-transmitted helminth infection. It is particularly common in poor sanitary conditions. Nevertheless, involvement of the gallbladder by Ascaris is a rare entity. A lady presented to us with long-standing history of vague abdominal symptoms suggesting dyspepsia. Ultrasound showed a tube like structure invading the biliary channels. Serum amylase was elevated and the patient was managed conservatively, as for acute pancreatitis. She improved clinically, but subsequent imaging with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed worm in the gallbladder. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was done and Ascaris lumbricoides was removed. Ascaris infestation is an important differential diagnosis of patients with upper abdominal symptoms and screening with stool examination and ultrasound is warranted in high-risk population.